The Premier League’s race for Champions League qualification remains on a knife-edge heading into the final weekend, but Arsenal ensured they would not be part of the drama after edging Newcastle United 1–0 at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Declan Rice’s superb strike in the 55th minute settled a tense encounter and confirmed a return to the Champions League for Mikel Arteta’s side. The result all but secured second place for the Gunners, with only Manchester City able to catch them mathematically. For Newcastle, it was a setback that keeps them in third but far from safe, as the battle for a top-five finish intensifies.
Arsenal were far from convincing in the first half and relied heavily on goalkeeper David Raya, who made several important saves to keep the game level. But Rice’s moment of quality after the restart lifted the home crowd and gave Arteta a measure of solace following a campaign that once promised more.
“I had a dream and it was to deliver a big trophy this season to our people,” said Arteta. “I think we deserve it from the journey we have been through in the last three or four years, but we haven’t achieved that. Now we need to take action and come back fresh on day one next season.”
Arsenal move to 71 points, 12 behind champions Liverpool, and are now assured of finishing no lower than third. For Newcastle, though, the pressure remains. Their 66 points leave them just one ahead of Nottingham Forest in seventh, and they must beat Everton next weekend to secure their Champions League place.
Forest gave themselves a chance with a hard-fought 2–1 win away at West Ham United. Goals from Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic, the latter confirmed after a lengthy VAR check, gave Forest a two-goal cushion before Jarrod Bowen’s reply sparked a tense finale. Seventeen minutes of stoppage time and a series of scuffles only added to the drama.
“We knew we had to win this game,” said Gibbs-White. “It’s do or die against Chelsea now. One last push and we have to give it everything.”
Chelsea, currently fourth on 66 points, visit the City Ground next weekend, while Aston Villa, also on 66, face a tricky test away to Manchester United. Sixth-placed Manchester City remain firmly in the race on 65 points and have two games in hand, at home to Bournemouth and away to Fulham.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe is bracing for a final day showdown. “It’s going to go to the end and who knows what twists and turns there will be,” he said. “We need one big effort in the last game.”
Elsewhere, Everton said farewell to Goodison Park after 133 years with a 2–0 win over Southampton, thanks to a brace from Iliman Ndiaye. Manager David Moyes paid tribute to the occasion as a host of club legends including Neville Southall and Wayne Rooney took part in the celebrations.
Fulham kept their faint hopes of European qualification alive with a 3–2 win at Brentford, while in a clash between relegated sides, Leicester City beat Ipswich Town 2–0. Jamie Vardy, making his 500th appearance and playing his final home match for the Foxes, scored his 200th goal for the club.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Vardy told supporters. “For taking myself and my family in as one of your own. Hopefully I’ve repaid you for that.”
As the season approaches its final act, the title may be settled, but the fight for Champions League football remains the Premier League’s most compelling subplot.
